High school. That time of your life when you were pigeon-holed like no other. Nerd, jock, tramp, frigid, loser, fattie, rat faced boy, whatever single block children, and occasionally teachers, could fit you into was where you stayed. Hollywood has mined this for years, adding to the cliches until every on-screen character is a stereotype of a stereotype. Thank heavens then for Easy A. The most refreshing look at the social life of teenagers in years, with the most likeable teen star since Say Anything.
Following the rich tradition of placing a classic novel in the school yard (see also; Emma turned into Clueless and Taming of the Shrew becoming 10 Things I Hate About You) Easy A takes its inspiration from The Scarlett Pimpernel. Overheard in the bathroom placating her best-friend by falsely confessing to losing her V-plates, Olive becomes infamous as the new school slut. Instead of rolling over and playing dead until the rumour mill runs out of seed, Olive sees how far she can push the lie, assuming the mantle of UberSkank. Her motive; to monitor how her peers react. And react they do.
Easy A belongs to two people. The first, Bert V. Royal, has written a screenplay that has more jokes per page than every other release this year. The second, and main star, is Emma Stone. From admirably supporting others in everything from Superbad to The House Bunny, Stone is given the rare chance to step into the spotlight, grabbing the opportunity with both hands. A female role in which the lead is given free reign to be witty, intelligent and still be able to run around in skimpy clothing, must have been the envy of the new breed of Tinsletown. Yet the feeling that nobody could have pulled it off quite like Stone remains. Her balance of quirky good looks, smokey voice and comedy timing make her one to watch very, very closely.
That the supporting cast of Thomas Haden Church, Lisa Kudrow and Amanda Byrne to name just a few aren’t overshadowed by this new shining light is to director Will Gluck’s credit. There’s even room for The Most Amazing Parents In The World TM, played by Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson. In theory they should be nauseating. In practice, played by two consummate professionals, they’re a wondrous creation.
Cliches like the supportive parents, the ‘cool’ teacher and the ‘token gay’ never feel like cliches. This isn’t just down to an occasional self reference, it’s down to fine acting and the writer giving the characters something to say. Something usually wittier than your average high schoolers Facebook status. Gems such as “The rumours of my promiscuity have been greatly exaggerated” never seem like over-egged, clever-clever, wordplay, but instead, insanely natural.
As clever as the script is, and as well supported as she may be ultimately the film belongs to Emma Stone’s Olive. If via the invention of time travel she could hook up with John Cusack’s Lloyd Dobler, King and Queen of Movie Prom Night would be a certainty. Together, these two could save the world.
